Tuneful and powerful, and a staple in concert halls around the world, Weber's groundbreaking overture to Der Freischütz dawned a new era in German music. With its daring innovations, this piece is considered the precursor to Wagner’s great music dramas. Mozart’s only Oboe Concerto offers a light and transparent musical texture that highlights the soloist’s shining presence, and ebullient exchanges between the soloist and orchestra add touches of rhythmic challenge. “The concerto may not be one of the hardest pieces in the oboe repertoire, but it can easily show an oboist’s musicality, technique, and precision,” explains Lidia Khaner.

On the contrary, Mozart's Masonic Funeral Music is dark and serious – a melancholic tune of mystery as opposed to fear or dread. Though written following the deaths of two members of the same Masonic lodge to which Mozart belonged, Mozart viewed this chilling piece as a meditation upon death. Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Orchestral Suite, “Mozartiana” – adapted from some of Mozart’s lesser known works – quickly won acclaim for its elaboration on graceful simplicity to create tone pictures full of charm and colour. Vivaldi's variations on “La Folia”, a popular Spanish tune which has inspired dozens of composers including Corelli, will also be performed.

The next and final performance of the Midweek Classics series this season takes place on March 26th, 2010. Edmonton’s Jeremy Spurgeon performs Handel’s dramatic concerto on the Davis Concert Organ in Echoes from the Baroque – a concert also featuring substantial orchestral works by Bach, Bizet, and Poulenc.

Thank you to our series media sponsor Espace Musique, and our season media sponsors CBC and the Edmonton Journal.

Sponsorship inquiries can be directed to Marc Carnes, Director of Development, at (780) 401-2518.

TheEdmonton Symphony Orchestra, marking its 58th season in 2009-2010, has taken its place as one of Canada's foremost orchestral ensemble. Its current roster includes 56 musicians from Canada and around the world, performing a wide-ranging repertoire from the great classical masterworks to pops and children's concerts. The presence of the orchestra and its enrichment of the community's quality of life are key elements in the stature and profile of Edmonton on the national and international scene.